How Sweden is governed Content The Government and the Government Offices 3 The Prime Minister and the other ministers 3 The Swedish Government at work 3 The Government Offices at work 4 Activities of the Government Offices 4 Government agencies 7 The budget process 7 The legislative process 7 The Swedish social model 9 A democratic system with free elections 9 The Swedish administrative model – three levels 10 The Swedish Constitution 10 Human rights 11 Gender equality 11 Public access 12 Ombudsmen 12 Scrutiny of the State 13 Sweden in the world 14 Sweden and the EU 14 Sweden and the United Nations 14 Nordic cooperation 15 Facts about Sweden 16 Contact 16 2 HOW SWEDEN IS GOVERNED The Government and the Government Offices The Prime Minister and the other ministers After each election the Speaker of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) submits a proposal for a new Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is subsequently appoin­ ted by the Riksdag and tasked with forming a government. The Government, led by the Prime Minister, governs Sweden. The Government consists of the Prime Minister and a number of ministers, each with their own area of responsibility. The Swedish Government at work The Government governs Sweden and is the driving force in the process by which laws are created and amended, thereby influencing the development of society as a whole. However, the Government is accountable to the Riksdag and must have its support to be able to implement its policies. The Government governs the country, which includes: • submitting legislative proposals to the Riksdag; • implementing decisions taken by the Riksdag; • exercising responsibility for the budget approved by the Riksdag; • representing Sweden in the EU; • entering into agreements with other states; • directing central government activities; • taking decisions in certain administrative matters not covered by other agencies. The changes the Government wishes to make are set out in legislative propos als, or Government bills, which are then submitted to the Riksdag for approval. The Government is also responsible for drawing up a proposal for the central gov­ ernment budget. When the Riksdag has taken its decision on a matter – for instance, a new law or the central government budget – it is up to the Government to implement the Riksdag’s decision. If a new law gives citizens new rights or imposes new obligations, this also means new responsibilities for the government agency in charge of the area. Collective decision-making The Government takes joint decisions on all government business at gov­ ernment meetings, which are held once a week. At least five ministers must be present for the Government to be able to take a decision. Government HOW SWEDEN IS GOVERNED 3 decisions are the formal and final stage of a long decision­making process. A gov­ ernment decision is often preceded by several months of work at official level. Sometimes an item of business can involve the areas of responsibility of several ministers. In that case, it is prepared jointly by their staff. All ministers must be in agreement about the decision before it is taken up at the government meeting. Around 6 000 government decisions are taken every year. Information is available on regeringen.se both before and after a decision is taken. The Government Offices at work The Government Offices is a government agency that acts as the Government’s staff and supports the Government in governing Sweden and realising its policies. The Government Offices include the Prime Minister’s Office, the min­ istries and the Office for Administrative Affairs. The Government Offices has ap­ proximately 4 500 employees, some 200 of whom are political appointees. When there is a change of government, the political appointees resign while the non­ politically recruited officials retain their positions. The Prime Minister’s Office leads and coordinates work in the Government Offices and is responsible for coordinating Swedish EU policy. The Prime Minister’s Office is headed by the Prime Minister. The leadership of every ministry comprises between one and three ministers, one of whom is head of ministry. The head of the Office for Administrative Affairs is the Head of Administration, a ­non politically appointed official. The officials help the Government to produce background material and proposals for government decisions and to investigate both national and international iss ues. The legislative process and budget process are two of the largest tasks. Their work also includes governance of the agencies under each ministry. All ministries are involved in European Union (EU) work, and officials from every ministry represent Sweden in the EU and prepare issues ahead of EU meetings. Sweden has around 100 missions abroad. Embassies, representations, delegations and consulates all fall into this category. Together with the approxi mately 400 honorary consulates, they make up Sweden’s foreign representation. Activities of the Government Offices Each ministry is headed by a minister. In addition, a ministry may have other ministers with responsibility for specific portfolios. Every minister has a staff of politically app ointed officials, for example state secretaries, political advis ers and press secretaries. Below ministerial level, a ministry’s operations are directed by the ministers’ immediate subordinate, the state secretary. Each ministry also has a director­ general for administ rative affairs responsible for ensuring that administrative matters that come before the Government are properly managed, and a director­ 4 HOW SWEDEN IS GOVERNED general for legal affairs responsible for drafting legislative proposals and ordinances. Most government business is prepared by officials in the various departments and divisions within the ministries. Ministry of Culture The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the following areas: culture and condi­ tions for creative artists, cultural heritage, media, film and sport. Ministry of Defence The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the following areas: total defence and protection and preparedness against accidents, emergency preparedness, interna­ tional peace support operations, international law in armed conflicts and security intelligence. Ministry of Education and Research The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for the following areas: pre­ schools and schools, universities and other higher education institutions, research, adult education, education for people with learning disabilities, Swedish for immi­ grants, liberal adult education, space activities, gender equality, youth policy, and civil society policy. Ministry of Employment The Ministry of Employment is responsible for the following areas: working life policy, labour market policy, integration policy, discrimination issues, human rights at national level, Swedish citizenship and minority policy. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications The Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications is responsible for the fol­ lowing areas: regional growth, energy, transport and infrastructure, IT, postal ser­ vices, and the business sector. The business sector area includes enterprise and entrepreneurship, competitiveness and functioning markets, and needs­driven research and innovation. Ministry of the Environment The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the following areas: a toxin­ free everyday environment, climate, seas, water, biodiversity, nature conserva tion, the system of environmental objectives, international environmental coop eration, ecocycles, nuclear safety and radiation protection, environmental legislation, en­ vironmental technology and environmental research. Ministry of Finance The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the following areas: economic policy, the central government budget, tax policy, financial market issues, lotteries and gaming issues, international economic cooperation, state­owned enterprises, and local government finances and legislation. HOW SWEDEN IS GOVERNED 5 Ministry for Foreign Affairs The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the following areas: foreign and security policy, global development and development assistance, trade policy, as­ sistance to Swedes abroad, international law and human rights, export controls of military equipment, international cooperation with countries and regions, and the promotion of trade, investment and Sweden. Ministry of Health and Social Affairs The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is responsible for the following areas: health and medical care, public health, children’s rights, disabilities, elderly care, social services, sickness insurance, pensions and financial support for families, central government administration, housing, construction and religious communities. Ministry of Justice The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the following areas: the Swedish Cons ti­ tution and legislation in the areas of criminal law, civil law and procedural law, the judicial system, migration and asylum policy, business relating to pardons in criminal cases and certain other criminal law matters, democracy policy, and consumer affairs. Ministry for Rural Affairs The Ministry for Rural Affairs is responsible for the following areas: agriculture and related environmental issues, rural development, forestry, fisheries and aqua­ culture, reindeer husbandry, Sami affairs, horticulture, animal welfare and health, foodstuffs, hunting and game management, and higher education and research in the land­based industries.